How did you choose the location of your Education Abroad experience?

I have always had a desire to live in Ireland because of my family’s connection to the country. I am almost 100 percent Irish, and I was named after my Great Grandmother who lived in Cork, Ireland, so I have always had a curiosity about the country.

How has your time in another country impacted your view of the world and your future goals?

After returning home from Dublin, I have found myself constantly researching other places to explore. I think that once I overcame my fear of traveling alone, and realized that I am capable of living independently, I realized that I could travel anywhere and experience cultures that are completely different from my own. Also, after my time in Ireland, I am open to the possibility of starting a career abroad.

What was your best/worst meal while abroad?

I didn’t really have a worst meal! However, I will say that the best “meal” that I had was a piece of double fudge cake from Manning’s Bakery in Dublin 8. For most, that probably isn’t considered a meal, but I practically live off of sweets. I will say that Irish bakeries are far superior to anything that we have in the U.S. They make actual Rocky Road, which, until I went to Ireland, thought that was only an ice cream flavor. It actually exists, is fudge with marshmallows and powdered sugar on top, and is absolutely incredible.

If you ever visit your host country again, what will be on your list of things to do?

Walk across the Carrick-A-Rede Rope Bridge again in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It is this tiny rope bridge that connects two giant rocks in the Northern Channel, and hundreds of people cross it everyday. It is always super windy because it is on the coast, and I felt like I was going to fall off the entire time, but I am so glad I walked across the bridge! Once you cross the bridge, you can see the coast of Scotland. Walking across the rope bridge was one of, if not my favorite experience while I was in Ireland.

What advice can you give fellow students who are considering the Education Abroad program?

Even if you think that it is too late to go abroad, research programs anyway. As a rising senior who still needed to complete an internship for my major, I thought that I had missed my opportunity to go abroad. However, I researched abroad programs that offered internships, and I found out that there are so many students out there like me, who wanted to learn more about their career from a global perspective.

Jessica Long

Italy

Summer 2015

Major:

Political Science

Minor:

History and Economics

Hometown:

Carroll, Ohio

Other activities:

Women's Soccer

How did you choose the location of your Education Abroad experience?

Italy has always been a country I have wanted to visit, so why not get an education while doing so.

How has your time in another country impacted your view of the world and your future goals?

Italy has made me realize that there are many other ways of living and living standards aren’t always the same across the globe. I want to work in more international politics now that I have seen the way other political systems work.

What was your best/worst meal while abroad?

Best meal was Pear Ravioli with a pear sauce. The worst was wild boar.

If you ever visit your host country again, what will be on your list of things to do?

To spend more time in Rome.

What advice can you give fellow students who are considering the Education Abroad program?

Travel within the country you are in. There is so much out there that people don’t realize and it helps you immerse yourself with the locals and actually understand where you are.

Maria Stickrath

England

Spring 2015

Major:

Political Science

Minors:

Leadership Studies and History

Hometown:

Zanesville, Ohio

Other activities:

Committee Head of the American Red Cross Club, EXCEL Leader, Orientation Leader, New York Times Leadership Fellow.

How did you choose the location of your Education Abroad experience?

I found out about the program through the McDonough Leadership Program. Since the program consisted of law classes at one of the most prestigious universities in the world, my interest was piqued because I hope to become a lawyer some day.

How has your time in another country impacted your view of the world and your future goals?

Spending time abroad has changed my perspective on my future. I now hope to study International Law, rather than domestic, and hope to live abroad for a time.

What was your best/worst meal while abroad?

The best meal I had was on my first day in Cambridge. We had a welcome dinner where I had lamb for the first time, and it was really good! The meal also consisted of other English staples, like coddled cream, which sounded strange, but tasted delicious. While the first meal in England was great, English food overall is not my favorite. I’m not a fan of potatoes, which proved disastrous because they are in almost every dish there. But, perhaps the worst was a salad I was served that had a few grass-like greens and a giant glop of goat cheese. I’m not sure what it was called, and I’m not sure I care to find out.

If you ever visit your host country again, what will be on your list of things to do?

If I ever return to England, which I hope to do, I would love to travel more of the country. I stayed relatively close to the London-Cambridge area, only traveling as far as Dover. I would love to visit Liverpool as my family is originally from that city, and, of course, the Beatles.

What advice can you give fellow students who are considering the Education Abroad program?

The advice that I would give is to try not to plan so much! The best times I had in England were the spontaneous adventures I took with friends. It’s great to have a plan of places you want to visit, but it is even more fun when a new friend bangs on your door on a Saturday morning and drags you to a place you’d never even thought to visit. And, if you get a little lost along the way, that’s OK too. One of the funniest memories I have is wandering around London with a group of friends attempting to find one of the seven Chipotles. We saw parts of London we probably wouldn’t have, and shared lots of laughs along the way.

Devin Wysni

Spain

Spring 2015

Major:

Information Systems

Hometown:

White Oak, Pennsylvania

Other activities:

Writing tutor and selected to be in the Executive-in-Residence program that is studying the uses of drones.

How did you choose the location of your Education Abroad experience?

I wanted to learn Spanish and about the Spanish culture. Malaga seemed to fit my personality best.

How has your time in another country impacted your view of the world and your future goals?

My time in Spain broadened my view on the world and gave me a better understanding on what other places in the world are like. I got to visit Morocco and Madrid as well. I added traveling to my future goals after my experience in Spain. I would love to travel in my future career.

What was your best/worst meal while abroad?

All of my host mom’s meals were amazing.

If you ever visit your host country again, what will be on your list of things to do?

If I ever visit Spain again I would really like to see a bullfight, visit Barcelona and other parts of Europe.

What advice can you give fellow students who are considering the Education Abroad program?

I advise you take it all in while you are there. Experience as much as possible, take as many pictures as you can and enjoy even the most difficult days.